Calculate the formal charge on a nitrogen atom in NH3.

Calculate the formal charge on a nitrogen atom in NH3.

Step 1: Identify the number of valence electrons for nitrogen. Nitrogen is in group 15 of the periodic table, so it has 5 valence electrons.
Step 2: Determine the number of non-bonding electrons on the nitrogen atom in NH3. In NH3, nitrogen has no lone pairs, so it has 0 non-bonding electrons.
Step 3: Count the number of bonding electrons. In NH3, nitrogen forms three single bonds with three hydrogen atoms. Each bond has 2 electrons, so there are 3 bonds x 2 electrons = 6 bonding electrons.
Step 4: Calculate the formal charge using the formula: Formal charge = Valence electrons - (Non-bonding electrons + 1/2 Bonding electrons). Plug in the values: Formal charge = 5 - (0 + 1/2 * 6).
Step 5: Simplify the calculation: 1/2 * 6 = 3, so Formal charge = 5 - (0 + 3) = 5 - 3 = 2.
Step 6: Therefore, the formal charge on the nitrogen atom in NH3 is 0.

Formal Charge Calculation – Understanding how to calculate the formal charge on an atom using the formula involving valence, non-bonding, and bonding electrons.
Valence Electrons – Recognizing the number of valence electrons for nitrogen and how they contribute to the formal charge.
Bonding and Non-bonding Electrons – Identifying the distinction between bonding and non-bonding electrons in a molecule.